Rare Exoplanet Found In Star Cluster, Orbits Sun's 'Twin' 63
astroengine writes "Three new exoplanets have been discovered inside a star cluster, which is a rare find as only a handful of such exoplanets are known to exist. However, one of the three new finds is even more remarkable — it orbits a star that appears to be 'an almost perfect solar twin.' The discovery was made by astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's HARPS exoplanet-hunting instrument (PDF) attached to the 3.6-meter telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile and was confirmed by other collaborating observatories. The astronomers' attention was focused on the Messier 67 open star cluster, which is located approximately 2,600 light-years away in the constellation Cancer."
Interesting vs Exciting (Score:4, Insightful)
Sun II - Interesting
Earth II - Exciting
Re:Possible! (Score:3, Insightful)
As this is only 2,600 light years away, it's well within the biblical-defined 6,000 year age of the universe.
Creationists rejoice!
2,600 light years is distance, not age. It could be much older.
Hm (Score:4, Insightful)
An exoplanet orbiting a Sol-like star in a star cluster. I think I've read that story [wikipedia.org].
Two? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Possible! (Score:2, Insightful)
But sure, it's fun to paint an entire belief system based on the theories of a small number of crackpots. Carry on.
You mean like the crackpots that think that a zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree?